Vehicle-tongue



(No Model.)

H. W. PRATT.

VEHICLE TONGUB.

No. 356,282. Patented Ja.11.`18,A 1887.

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Unirse STATES PATRNT Orrica.

HERBERT WV. PRATT, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE-romena.

l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,232, dated January 18, 1887.

L Application led November' 27, 1886. Serial No. 220,041. (No model.)

-To all whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT W. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Streator, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Tongues, and 4I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specitication, and to the letters and gures of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has relation to the tongues or poles of vehicles; and the object thereof isto provide an attachment to the forward end of the tongue or pole, whereby the strain thereon is relieved, thus rendering it less liable to break; also removing the heavy pressure made by the collars on the necks of the horses,and takes the strain from the wagon or vehicle.

A further object of the device is to so construct it that when going over obstructions the forward and backward motion is made perfectly easy, and in going downhill all the unpleasantjolting is'relieved and the driving of the team rendered more pleasant and agreeable, as the horses can travel with more freedom and ease. These several objects above enumerated I attain by the construction substantially as shown in the drawings, and hereinafter' described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which represents a longitudinal section of my invention, A'designates a metal tube having at one end a flaring socket, B, in which tits the end of the" tongue or pole, and the front or forward end of said tube has exterior screw-threads, a,with

.which engages the thinible O, also having screwthreads upon its interior, as shown. Over the tube A, near its forward end, isloosely placed asleeve, D, and between thesleeve and VsocketB is a coiled spring, E, one end oi' said strength and durability, and sliding on the tube more easilyr when pressure is brought against it; also removing the danger of theseveral coils of the spring working out of their relative position by constant use. The coils of the spring may be brought nearer to or farther from each other, to regulate its tension by means of the thiinble O, which may be adjusted on the end of the tube A by means of the screw-threads hereinbelore described. The leather on the neckyol e of the har'- ness strikes the annular shoulder c and the sleeve works against the spring E, the sleeve working back and forward, according to the pressure from behind or the pressure placed upon it by thewagon or other vehicle. It will be noticed that the pressure of the spring is in a direction toward. the horses, thereby relieving the strain on the tongue or pole and the vehicle.

Theannular shoulder c may be dispensed with and the sleeve D provided with arms ex-A tending out laterally therefrom for attaching thereto certain portions of the harness, thus adapting the device to hacks and double carriages, these changes being made without departing from the principle of my invention, and the tongue or pole, if preferred, may extend through the tube and into the thimble, as found preferable.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A device for attachment to the ends of ve.n

hicle tongues or poles, consisting of a tube,

H. W. PRATT.

YVi/tnesses:

C. R. TAYLOR, O. CHURBUGK. 

